Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T AWD Premium

[Autos_Editor]

After a week behind the wheel of the 2.0-litre turbo ATS, Tom Sedens is mighty impressed.

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[ChaosphereIX]

glowing review. I agree, fantastic car and fantastic powertrain. Who cares if CUE is stupid - it can be updated. Who cares if the back seats are tight - putting three abreast in the back, I have only ever encountered this situation a half dozen times over the years, nobody expects acres of room nor should they. Love that they kept the proportions tidy and didn't swell the car just to have class leading room here and there where it doesn't matter. Love this car.

[redman]

Sounds like G.M. has done their homework and passed.

The only think I don't get lately (and not just from G.M.) is in regards to the engine choice; the purpose of a small engine like a 2.0L Turbo is to optimize fuel economy buy clearly it fails here as with Ford (Ecoboost).

Why not just place a straight 6 under the hood. For me their is nothing (save a V12) sweeter than the feel of a well engineered straight six. Prime example E46 M3.

[nlm]

Nice review but two questions:

"It all makes its way through a six-speed automatic on my tester (though a manual is available with this engine), and out to all four corners via an all-wheel-drive system."

- I'm assuming that a manual is not available with this engine and AWD?

"Does the ATS beat the competition? Right now, I’d put it on par. Putting anything on par with a benchmark is saying something. It’s saying it’s good. And the ATS isn’t just good. It’s awesome."

- ATS = on par; on par = good; good < awesome; ATS = Awesome. You lost me on this one! Do you think the ATS is as good or better than the benchmark?

[TheHire]

Yeah I don't care in the slightest if the rear seats are tight. I had the ATS 3.6 Premium over the holidays and at one point I fit five 6-footers into it. It was nearly unbearable but it can be done. This isn't possible in my parents' E90 3-series sedan.

The car is absolutely brilliant.

[carcrazed]

Nice review but two questions:

"It all makes its way through a six-speed automatic on my tester (though a manual is available with this engine), and out to all four corners via an all-wheel-drive system."

- I'm assuming that a manual is not available with this engine and AWD?

"Does the ATS beat the competition? Right now, I’d put it on par. Putting anything on par with a benchmark is saying something. It’s saying it’s good. And the ATS isn’t just good. It’s awesome."

- ATS = on par; on par = good; good < awesome; ATS = Awesome. You lost me on this one! Do you think the ATS is as good or better than the benchmark?

Here's how I read it:
THE competition = BMW 3 series = awesome = ATS being on par ==> ATS is also awesome.

[mixmanmash]

Nice review but two questions:

"It all makes its way through a six-speed automatic on my tester (though a manual is available with this engine), and out to all four corners via an all-wheel-drive system."

- I'm assuming that a manual is not available with this engine and AWD?

Correct.  Only manual and RWD.

I do find issue with not having enough rear seat room.  In many of these smaller RWD sports sedans, I can't fit a rear facing child seat without moving the drivers seat up, which doesn't leave me comfortable.  As well, I regularly have adult passengers and it would be nice to have enough room for them.  It's pretty sad that my 2002 Protege has better rear seat room than an A4, C-Class, 3-Series, ATS, G37, and IS.

[wing]

And watch your head getting in, geez it's a tight squeeze.

[Wildsau]

Nice review but two questions:

"It all makes its way through a six-speed automatic on my tester (though a manual is available with this engine), and out to all four corners via an all-wheel-drive system."

- I'm assuming that a manual is not available with this engine and AWD?

"Does the ATS beat the competition? Right now, I’d put it on par. Putting anything on par with a benchmark is saying something. It’s saying it’s good. And the ATS isn’t just good. It’s awesome."

- ATS = on par; on par = good; good < awesome; ATS = Awesome. You lost me on this one! Do you think the ATS is as good or better than the benchmark?

Here's how I read it:
THE competition = BMW 3 series = awesome = ATS being on par ==> ATS is also awesome.

That's a good question, nlm. I could have been more clear. Carcrazed read it correctly - I found both cars to be awesome! In this case, they're awesome in some of the same areas, as well as in significantly different ways from each other.

[Wildsau]

I do find issue with not having enough rear seat room.  In many of these smaller RWD sports sedans, I can't fit a rear facing child seat without moving the drivers seat up, which doesn't leave me comfortable.  As well, I regularly have adult passengers and it would be nice to have enough room for them.  It's pretty sad that my 2002 Protege has better rear seat room than an A4, C-Class, 3-Series, ATS, G37, and IS.

I agree. I know it slightly dampens the spirit of the sport sedan, but for my everyday requirements, I regularly need to transport my three kids (in various stages of child seating) and at other times, 1 or 2 adults. I also require significant trunk space on a regular basis, and I found the ATS' to be too small for me - although it would be fine for many folks.

These things sound trivial when looking at the sport factor in a sedan, but in the end, I'd have to put my money on something I can also live with when it comes to utility. I wish I didn't need those things and I could buy a 2-seat trunkless wonder. But that's not the case right now.

[whaddaiknow]

I do find issue with not having enough rear seat room.  In many of these smaller RWD sports sedans, I can't fit a rear facing child seat without moving the drivers seat up, which doesn't leave me comfortable.  As well, I regularly have adult passengers and it would be nice to have enough room for them.  It's pretty sad that my 2002 Protege has better rear seat room than an A4, C-Class, 3-Series, ATS, G37, and IS.

I agree. I know it slightly dampens the spirit of the sport sedan, but for my everyday requirements, I regularly need to transport my three kids (in various stages of child seating) and at other times, 1 or 2 adults. I also require significant trunk space on a regular basis, and I found the ATS' to be too small for me - although it would be fine for many folks.

These things sound trivial when looking at the sport factor in a sedan, but in the end, I'd have to put my money on something I can also live with when it comes to utility. I wish I didn't need those things and I could buy a 2-seat trunkless wonder. But that's not the case right now.

I agree with you 100%.
Anyone with a family (2 or more kids) middle-aged or older will not buy this car.
This car, as good as it may be, is targeted at a younger buyer who isn't bothered by shuttling kids in the back and won't complain about a stiff ride for the sake of corner carving. This car is NOT a family member, it's a fun toy for a younger driver.

(I do take my 3 kids to daycare everyday in my 3-series. It's NOT fun)

Question is - will a younger buyer find $55k for a toy like this? And if they do, won't they look at the Audi S4 with a proper (supercharged) V6 which will mop the floor with this 2.0T ATS and starts at $53k?

I personally find this review positive to the extreme. In my research, I usually discard both extremes (positive and negative) as not thorough and/or objective. Is the ATS flawless even for its intended purpose? Doubt it.

The car is good on its own but the review is a 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I agree with you 100%.
Anyone with a family (2 or more kids) middle-aged or older will not buy this car.
This car, as good as it may be, is targeted at a younger buyer who isn't bothered by shuttling kids in the back and won't complain about a stiff ride for the sake of corner carving. This car is NOT a family member, it's a fun toy for a younger driver.

(I do take my 3 kids to daycare everyday in my 3-series. It's NOT fun)

Question is - will a younger buyer find $55k for a toy like this? And if they do, won't they look at the Audi S4 with a proper (supercharged) V6 which will mop the floor with this 2.0T ATS and starts at $53k?

I personally find this review positive to the extreme. In my research, I usually discard both extremes (positive and negative) as not thorough and/or objective. Is the ATS flawless even for its intended purpose? Doubt it.

The car is good on its own but the review is a 

So you have a family and bought a similarily sized 3-series, yet families won't buy the ATS. Interesting theory.

[whaddaiknow]

So you have a family and bought a similarily sized 3-series, yet families won't but the ATS. Interesting theory.

When I got the 3-series, we only had 2 kids. Wife wasn't sure if she was going back to work. We also had a van. The 3-series was my toy.
Now that we have 3 kids, wife is back to work and leaves early, I have to take care of the kids in the morning. In hindsight, I should have gotten something with a more spacious back seat.

Does that explain the "theory"?

If I were to buy today under $40k, it would be a '13 RAV4, '13 B250, '13 Accord or '13 Avalon

[Sir Osis of Liver]

So you have a family and bought a similarily sized 3-series, yet families won't but the ATS. Interesting theory.

When I got the 3-series, we only had 2 kids. Wife wasn't sure if she was going back to work. We also had a van. The 3-series was my toy.
Now that we have 3 kids, wife is back to work and leaves early, I have to take care of the kids in the morning. In hindsight, I should have gotten something with a more spacious back seat.

Does that explain the "theory"?

If I were to buy today under $40k, it would be a '13 RAV4, '13 B250, '13 Accord or '13 Avalon

It explains it, but not very well.

Around my neighbourhood, there are a number of A4, IS, 3 series. Much like yourself, most have another larger vehicle. How would the same thing not apply to the ATS?

[whaddaiknow]

It explains it, but not very well.

Around my neighbourhood, there are a number of A4, IS, 3 series. Much like yourself, most have another larger vehicle. How would the same thing not apply to the ATS?

All strictly my opinion. It is way too expensive for what it has to offer. Handling seems to be its forte but it's quickly going downhill from there. Anyone who has to "live" with a car for a number of years, will have to consider:

space (cramped), reliability (unknown but it being a GM is not playing in its favour), cost of ownership, usability (that CUE sh1t alone would be enough to drive me nuts), resale value too.

Unless you can afford to part with $60k (OTD) on impulse after driving it alone for a few minutes, you should give it a long hard look before talking numbers with the sales guy.

[Mike]

I do find issue with not having enough rear seat room.  In many of these smaller RWD sports sedans, I can't fit a rear facing child seat without moving the drivers seat up, which doesn't leave me comfortable.  As well, I regularly have adult passengers and it would be nice to have enough room for them.  It's pretty sad that my 2002 Protege has better rear seat room than an A4, C-Class, 3-Series, ATS, G37, and IS.

I agree. I know it slightly dampens the spirit of the sport sedan, but for my everyday requirements, I regularly need to transport my three kids (in various stages of child seating) and at other times, 1 or 2 adults. I also require significant trunk space on a regular basis, and I found the ATS' to be too small for me - although it would be fine for many folks.

These things sound trivial when looking at the sport factor in a sedan, but in the end, I'd have to put my money on something I can also live with when it comes to utility. I wish I didn't need those things and I could buy a 2-seat trunkless wonder. But that's not the case right now.

I agree with you 100%.
Anyone with a family (2 or more kids) middle-aged or older will not buy this car.
This car, as good as it may be, is targeted at a younger buyer who isn't bothered by shuttling kids in the back and won't complain about a stiff ride for the sake of corner carving. This car is NOT a family member, it's a fun toy for a younger driver.

(I do take my 3 kids to daycare everyday in my 3-series. It's NOT fun)

Question is - will a younger buyer find $55k for a toy like this? And if they do, won't they look at the Audi S4 with a proper (supercharged) V6 which will mop the floor with this 2.0T ATS and starts at $53k?

I personally find this review positive to the extreme. In my research, I usually discard both extremes (positive and negative) as not thorough and/or objective. Is the ATS flawless even for its intended purpose? Doubt it.

The car is good on its own but the review is a 

 Wildsau wrote the review.

[Northernridge]

About the only things that the ATS has going against it are no reliability history and the big one...lack of brand cache. It's reasonable to doubt that buyers will step up at $55k given the alternatives available.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It explains it, but not very well.

Around my neighbourhood, there are a number of A4, IS, 3 series. Much like yourself, most have another larger vehicle. How would the same thing not apply to the ATS?

All strictly my opinion. It is way too expensive for what it has to offer. Handling seems to be its forte but it's quickly going downhill from there. Anyone who has to "live" with a car for a number of years, will have to consider:

space (cramped), reliability (unknown but it being a GM is not playing in its favour), cost of ownership, usability (that CUE sh1t alone would be enough to drive me nuts), resale value too.

Unless you can afford to part with $60k (OTD) on impulse after driving it alone for a few minutes, you should give it a long hard look before talking numbers with the sales guy.

I'd bank on GM reliability long before anything German frankly.

Your other points apply equally to the German competition. None are cheap, none are spacious, all are poor choices for cost of ownership, and depreciation in the class isn't stellar. CUE over iDrive is a wash based on my limited experience.

[ChaosphereIX]

It explains it, but not very well.

Around my neighbourhood, there are a number of A4, IS, 3 series. Much like yourself, most have another larger vehicle. How would the same thing not apply to the ATS?

All strictly my opinion. It is way too expensive for what it has to offer. Handling seems to be its forte but it's quickly going downhill from there. Anyone who has to "live" with a car for a number of years, will have to consider:

space (cramped), reliability (unknown but it being a GM is not playing in its favour), cost of ownership, usability (that CUE sh1t alone would be enough to drive me nuts), resale value too.

Unless you can afford to part with $60k (OTD) on impulse after driving it alone for a few minutes, you should give it a long hard look before talking numbers with the sales guy.

if you have 3 kids, you should not be using a sport sedan to shuttle them around. Sport sedans, or any sedans, should not be designed with shuttling three car seats in the back when then are being designed. you are buying the wrong car if that is the case. Dont try and make a square fit into a circle hole, get a vehicle that is designed to shuttle around 3 kids. I can get 2 kids in the back of my Saab [not great back seat room to start with] no problem, but 3 is rediculous. The back seats are not meant to be Dodge Caravan big, nor should they be. You want a people mover, buy one.

[whaddaiknow]

 Wildsau wrote the review.

Ironic, eh?  One has to go to the forum to see what the reviewer actually has to say about the car? GM reads the main articles but don't bother reading the forums?